A belated Happy New Year to all Medstead and area residents, and I hope 2011 proves to be a good year for you.
In contrast to previous activity laden months, January has started off slowly with few activities happening at the moment.
At Medstead Central School, Grades 10, 11 and 12 students are studying hard for their final exams that are coming up the last week of January.
As well, the school community council has two vacancies due to the departure of members Rich and Sandra Sommerfeld
"The council is really in need of people who are interested in helping the school move forward and assisting the school in a positive way," said principal Kelly Schneider.
Any member of the community is eligible to apply. The council can consist of as many as nine members, although at the moment, only four individuals comprise the community council.
"We're really looking for some excited people to come and help us out," he said.
The time commitment will involve an evening meeting every six weeks and then meetings on a come when you can basis.
Schneider is also coach of the girls' and boys' volleyball teams, which ended their season in November. The boys' team hosted and competed at provincials, held in Medstead, earning a bronze medal. Twelve teams from across the province competed.
"I was really happy for them," Schneider said, adding that badminton for Grades 4 - 12 has just started. Due to a lack of participants and interest, basketball has been cancelled this year.
Friday nights is reserved for Kaiser at 7 p.m. in the seniors' room at the Medstead Community Hall while cribbage has just started every Saturday afternoon. Carpet bowling resumed on Jan. 12 at 7:30 p.m. The games are open to everyone and new players are encouraged to join.
Curling got off to a late start this year due to the breakdown of a compressor and commenced Jan. 11. Regular curling will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
"Between the two nights we have 10 teams," said organizer Jackie Starling. "It's open to anybody."
Feb. 12, a Glow in the Dark Funspiel will take place starting at 9 a.m. The entry fee is $10 per person and the event is open to anyone. Participants are not required to enter as a team as they can enter individually and then form part of a team.
"The lights are all shut off and the ice is painted with special paint that glows in the dark," explained Starling, adding that black lights are also used and windows are covered with cardboard to block light.
Glow sticks will abound, fastened to the curling rocks while the kids adorn themselves with them.
"That way you can see the rocks going down the ice and it's very neat to watch," Starling said, adding, that one of the purposes of the funspiel is to get the younger kids in the community interested in curling.
The ladies' bonspiel will take place from March 11 to 13. The entry fee is $100 a team. Three games are guaranteed with a banquet to be held on Saturday night at the Medstead Community Hall that is included in the entry fee. The deadline to register is March 8.
On March 27 to April 3, an open bonspiel takes place next and is open to everyone including children.
"We start on a Sunday, curl in the evenings throughout the week, then all through the weekend the following weekend," Starling explained.
The entry fee for this event is $120 per team with three events scheduled plus a grand challenge.
A dance, featuring a live band and a midnight lunch, is scheduled for April 1. Entry is included in the entry fees while additional tickets for anyone in the community wishing to attend is $10. The deadline for entries is March 24.
To register for the bonspiels, contact Jackie Starling at 342 - 4393 or Adele Steinhardt at 342 - 4231.
